Episode 64 "Mike Fiers Edition"

Breakdown of The Show:

News Scrum (Axford, Betancourt, A-Ram, GoGo, Etc.) 0:00-41:00
Break
Preview/Chalet Award Winner 42:00-51:00

Double Vision

Doug "The Wizard" Melvin has been hard at work in these dark days of December. It's just too bad that his magic seems to have weakened this off season. With the signings of Alex Gonzalez and K-Rod fresh in my head I have to ask...why? Granted nothing could match the fireworks we got last year as word traveled around about lucrative pick ups, and head scratches, and long shot payoffs, but are the Brewers grasping at straws to try and hold on to a contending team after the loss of Prince? Straw number one for me would be the signing of Yuni's more agile, and older, brother Alex Gonzalez.

Gonzalez has had a spotty history at best with most of his employment coming because of his glove, not his bat. In 13 seasons Gonzalez has a batting average of .247, and even Kotsay is laughing at that number. But, the story gets deeper when you take into account the fact that he has a steadily rising K%, up 6% since 2009, the inability to take any walks, career average 4.8%, and a propensity to swing at outside pitches. Really stacked up back to back Yuni would be his offensive peer, and if we want to get really real historically Yuni and Gonzalez are only separated by .002 in career fielding percentage (FP).

I wanted someone other than the Cuban Ballerina too, but that doesn't mean that we just go and sign his doppelganger. Granted it is obvious that Gonzalez saves a ton more runs when we look at the vast expanse between Gonzalez and Yuni's UZR (Ultimate Zone Rating). UZR is compiled differently than FP in that it takes into account variables that get left out since FP is a simple formula, putouts and assists divided by putouts + assists + errors, while UZR will tell you how efficient the player is at turning 2, saving runs with their arm, and comparative stats against league averages. Yuni carries a -48.8 career UZR, and Gonzalez owns a career 44.3...only a small difference.

So, Gonzalez has at least proven to me on paper that we can expect the same level of production with better defense and I am OK, but not happy with this move. I am a lot happier with this than the handcuff/blessing K-Rod may or may not be. If Milwaukee brass finds a way to land a big hitter like Aramis Ramirez than my jets may be cooled, but for now I am simmering for a take off. With a group around the horn with not too much depth I worry that we are slowly turning into Oakland; great pitching, mid tier offense. We will see after the frozen tundra thaws if Melvin has a couple more tricks up his sleeve, that or Mr. Attanasio is gonna have to bring all his suits in to get the pockets let out.

-Alex

Listener/Reader Poll Results

"Realistically, who is the best option at SS in 2012?"

Yuniesky Betancourt: 0%

Clint Barmes: 77%

Rafael Furcal: 0%

Jose Reyes: 11%

Jimmy Rollins: 0%

Jamey Carroll: 11%

VFBC Podcast Episode 24

Breakdown of The Show:

Betancourt/McGehee On Fire! :00-12:54
Break
Gallardo, Is He The #1? 14:10-29:28
Break
Minor League Update 30:35-52:38
Break
Preview/Around NL Central/Chalet Award Winner 53:39-1:09:05

Reviewing The JJ Hardy Trade

With our recent rant about how useless Yuniesky Betancourt has proved to be so far this season, I decided to retrace our steps to our current situation at Shortstop and really with the legend that is Tony Plush. When the Brewers decided to trade Hardy, he was on a career low slope, hitting for a slash line of .229/.302/.357. With a huge power loss and production falling Hardy was forced out the door by the organization’s top prospect Alcides Escobar.

Escobar at this point was being praised at this point by most scouts as a gold glover with a bat that could develop into something that at least would not kill a lineup. So the organization dumped Hardy, and interest was low for a former All-Star Gold Glove caliber offensive threat that was JJ Hardy. The Brewers big search for pitching failed (although rumor has it they could have had some swell prospects) and they ended up with Carlos Gomez.

Gomez to this point as a Brewer has been a big disappointment, with only the advertised glove holding true and a centerfielder that was all but abandoned by two other organizations succeeding in his place. The Brewers have a stock pile full of OF prospects in their minor league systems (not all are ready for the majors) and Gomez is only being used in late inning situation with only one start so far this month, but the big hole is at the position that had so much depth it allowed the organization to trade what was once an important part of the lineup.

Currently Betancourt is a cancer in the Brewers lineup, killing most run producing innings, leaving a staggering 29 on-base in his last 6 games played (covering the three last series that the Brewers have lost). Hardy meanwhile has yet to hit Free Agency, and is playing like he means it hitting .301/.366/.530 compared to Betancourt’s .233/.255/.341. Gomez has been replaced in the lineup twice and both times by players who were with the organization to start a season, proving of no value. You may argue that Escobar may have been more valuable without the failure that was his first major league season.

The Brewers have received no gain after the trade that sent JJ Hardy away, and right now he would fill the only hole in the lineup that is keeping the Brewers from being successful. Not even two years later, the Brewers are rumored to be thinking about bringing Hardy back at a much higher price tag and losing him in Free Agency. I could think of one thousand other things I would have traded JJ Hardy for and most of them can be found in my trash can.

-Brad

VFBC Podcast Episode 17

Breakdown of The Show:

Randy Wolf's Impressive Season So Far :00-13:34
Break
SS, What To Do With Yuni Betancourt? In House and Trade 14:56-34:15
Break
Minor League Talk 35:14-1:02
Break
Preview/Around NL Central/Chalet Award Winner 1:03-1:14:48

Listener Poll Results

"Worst Brewers (semi) regular player in recent memory?"

Chad Moeller: 60%

Franklin Stubbs: 20%

Yuniesky Betancourt: 0%

Jesse Levis: 0%

Juan Bell: 20%

VFBC Podcast Episode 9

Breakdown of The Show:

Offensive Woes (Betancourt, Gomez, Kotsay & Almonte Dreadful) 00-19:29
Break
Week Recap (Pirates/Nats Series) 20:46-34:12
Break
Defensive Alignments/Crazy Shifts/They Work 35:26-42:16
Break
Preview Week Ahead (Phillies/Astros Series) & News/Notes 43:30-52:11

VFBC Podcast Episode 1

Breakdown of The Show:

Intro 0:00-3:55
What We Gained 3:55-21:45
What We Lost 21:45-37:30
Break
Biggest Question Marks 40:35-51:45
Replacements for Gomez/Betancourt 51:45-1:05
Break
Greinke in 3 Years 1:08-1:24
Break
Goodbye 1:27-1:33

Reader Poll Results

"Who should be the Brewers starting SS in 2011?"

Yuniesky Betancourt: 41%

Luis Cruz: 17%

Craig Counsell: 11%

Player Not On Roster Yet: 29%